Phillips to Sell Rare Pink Diamond Collection

RAPAPORT... Rare pink diamonds from Rio Tinto’s Argyle
mine in Australia will lead the upcoming Hong Kong Jewels and Jadeite auction at
Phillips next month.

The collection comprises 16 jewelry pieces,
each incorporating stones from the Argyle deposit, which is the only known
source of pink diamonds and is due to close next year. Chief among these will
be a ring that can be converted into a pair of ear studs. The piece, which features
two heart-shaped, fancy-intense-purplish-pink diamonds, has a presale estimate
of HKD 5.8 million to HKD 6.8 million ($739,860 to $867,423).

Other items include a pair of fancy pink
diamond, seed pearl and white diamond earrings designed by London-based jeweler
Sarah Ho, which is expected to fetch HKD 110,000 to HKD 150,000 ($14,031 to
$19,134). A ring by Singapore-based gemologist Paige Parker, featuring pink,
yellow and white diamonds, has a presale estimate of HKD 260,000 to HKD 320,000
($33,166 to $40,820). Another ring by Hong Kong jewelry designer Karen Suen, in
which pink and white diamonds are set around a conch pearl, is meanwhile valued
at up to HKD 620,000 ($79,087).

Two further items from the collection, also
up for auction, feature Columbian Muzo emeralds alongside Argyle pink diamonds.
A necklace, expected to garner up to HKD 2.2 million ($280, 640), will go under
the hammer alongside a pair of emerald, white and pink diamond pendant earrings
with a presale estimate of up to HKD 630,000 ($80,367).

Additional pieces, outside of the pink
diamond collection, include a jadeite bead and diamond necklace, which is
expected to fetch between HKD 8.5 million and HKD 11 million ($1.1 million to
$1.4 million). A rare Van Cleef & Arpels zip necklace, including
diamonds, sapphires and lapis lazuli, is expected to net up to HKD
4.5 million ($574,042).

The auction will take place at the JW Marriott in
Hong Kong on November 25. It will be preceded by a three-day public exhibition
at the same location.